Closure-operator



J. M. WORKMAM CLOSURE OPERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED !'AN.4, I918.

Patented Oct. 26,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

. lttouwig J. M. WORKMAN.

CLOSURE OPERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.4. 191B.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

reins.

JAMES M. WORKMAN, 0F GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

CLOSURE-OPERATOR.

Application filed January 4, 1918. Serial No.- 210,343.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns M. WORKMAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident .of Greenville, county of Greenville, and State of South Carolina, have invented an Improvement in Closure-Operators, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention .is to provide an effective means for operating pivoted or hinged window sashes, more especially for factory buildings and large public halls or auditoriums, the construction being .so designed as to enable the sash to be positioned to various degrees of opening and held in such positions, but at all'times capableby easy manipulation by an attendant, to change the angles of or close the sash.

In general, my invention comprehendsa pivoted window sash to which is hinged an operating bar associated with operating chains or cables by which the window sash may be tilted from a closed positionto any angle of opening, the said operating mechanism being provided with means for holding the sash in position when opened to the desired degree, all of which is more fully described hereinafter and specially pointed out in the claims.

My improvements will be better understood by reference to r the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a" vertical section of a portion of a window frame and pivoted sash showing my improvements applied thereto when the sash is held in open position; Fig. 2 is a similar view but with the operative parts manipulated to permit the sash to be closed; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the window sash in closed position; Fig. 4 is a front view of the bracket and attachedparts in Fig. 1 with part in section; Fig. 5 is a vertical section corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing a modification of my invention; and, Fig. 6 is an elevation of the specially constructed sheave shown in Fig. 5. r

2 is the fixed member of the window sash and 3 indicates the usual hingedor pivoted sash member thereof which in many cases is of considerable size, constituting approximately one-half of the whole window. 4 is an operating barwhich is hinged to the pivoted sash 3 at'5 and the said hinged e'ndof the bar 4 is laterally curved as at 6, asindi cated in Fig. 3, to enable it to bridge over the operative mechanism when the window sash 3' is closed. This bar 4 is provided with'a plurality of lugs or teeth 7, spaced at lntervals along lts length and also has its lower or free end turned at an angle as indicated at 8 for connection with the end of the operating chain or cable 18, employed in opening or controlling the closing of the sash. .An operating .chain or cable 17, for closing the sash, is connected to the bar 4 ad acent to its hinge point 5 with thesash 3, so that when a pull upon the chain or cable 17 is given, the power. is applied to the sash 3 so close to the hinge 5 of the bar 4 that the pull in effect is substantially upon the sash.

The chains or cables 17 and 18 pass about suitable guide pulleys 16 and depend to within easy reach'of an operator and deslrably connect into a loop, as at 19. It will be understood that if the parts are in the relation illustrated in Fig. 3, a pull upon the cable 18 would tend toraise the bar 4 and exert a lateral thrust at the hinge 'point5, which would open the sash allowing it to assume aMposition as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. cans for retaining the bar 4 in the position assumed are provided and com prise a cross bar 10 which, at its lower part engages the notches 22 in the bracket and is provided at its ends with upwardly extending arms 1O arranged upon theouter sides of the guard 9 of the bracket and is locked in position at the. top by a cross pin 23 of fusible metal. This fusible pin 23 holds the bar 10 down in engagement with I the notches 22 of'the bracket to prevent its shifting under normal conditions. The lugs or-teeth 7 of the actuating bar .4 arev inclined at the forward ends soas to slide over this cross bar 10and engage it in such a manner as to lock the said bar 4 against a return movement. To provide for the dis engagement of the bar 4 withthe CIOSSrbZLI 10,1 employ a lever 12 which is hinged at 13 to. the bracket 9,'said lever having a short arm 14 projecting horizontally above the grooved wheels 16 and under the bar 4, and

further having a downwardly extending arm carrying a grooved .pulley v15 over which the downwardly extending portion of the chain'17 passes. ,It willnow be understood, that if the lower part of the chain 17 be pulled, the lever 12-will be oslated, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2; and

- the result of this is, that the arm 14 forces the bar 4 upward within the guard 9 of the bracket, so that the lugs 7 thereof clear cross bar 10, and thereafter the manipulations of the two chains or cables 17 and 18 permit the bar 4 to move backward to close the sash 3 to any degree desired. By manipulating the chains or cables 17 and .18, the sash 3 may be moved toward and into a closed position upon the fixed sash 2. In opening the window sash there will be no necessity of any pull upon the chain or cable'17, as

the pullupon the cable 18 inovesthe bar 4 freely over the cross bar 10 to the position desired.

When the sash'is fully closed (Fig. 3)"

and the bar 4 hangs in a vertical position, anyattempt to open the sash3 by directlypulling upon the same would be resisted with an enormous leverage produced by the bar 4L which is an effectual lock against any wind pressures upon the sash, but the oper ating bar also has'a lug 20 which engages the cross bar 10 to positively lock the sash against unlawful opening fronrthe outside.

In case of fire,it. is desirable thatthe windowrsash 3 should automatically close and this action is provided by having the cross bar 10 connected in place upon the bracket 9 and its guard 9 by fusible pin 23 which fuses underthe increased temperature and particular window construction. It will be understood that by placing the'fusible pin 23 high up above the bar 1, it is in position to receive the effect of the heat in case of fire,

tothe best advantage, and at the same time is protected from injury from the moving partsof the apparatus. It is also pointed out that the locking pin 23 is so far from the bar 10 and its engaging or retaining notches 22 that a relatively light pin will sustain the strain and hence be'mor'e easily fusible. The fusible connection between the arms 10 and the bracket9 may be made in other ways if so desired without departing from-the essential requirements-of the. invention.

I In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the

bracket 9 is provided with aspecially constructed grooved sheave 16 which has two main grooved portions 16* and 16, the, former of which is provided with a lateral grooved'portion 16 which continues in a further circumferential groove 16 The grooves 16 and 16 are relatively shallower than the grooves 16 and 16 and operate to provide a cam action upon the chain or cable 18 by jamming it against the wall 24 of the bracket 9f whenever itis desired to lock the bar 4* from a return movement. The chain 17 for closing the sash is guided in the groove'16 of the sheave 16 whereas the cable 18 for lifting the bar 4? and opening the sash 3 i guided in the groove 16 of the sheave. The end 10 of the bracket may be shaped to prevent disengagement of the chains or cables from the sheave. In

manipulating the chain 18 to open the that it enters the groove 16 andinto the cam groove 16 then upon slightly relieving the pull upon the chain it will becarried upward and jammed between the abutment 24 and the'shallow grooved portion 16 of the sheave, thereby retaining the bar 4 and the sash the chain-18 is pulled until it runs back sash in their open positions. To close the into the groove 16, and thereafter it ,is payed upward and if desired, assisted by a downward pull upon the chain 1'? until the 7 parts arrive at the positions indicated in Fig. 5. As shown in this figure, there is a lug 20 upon the curved portion 6 of'the' bar 1 said lug being in horizontal alinement with a lug 21 on the bracket 9. The result of this is, that should an attempt be made to pullthe. window: sash outward, the lug; 20 i will engagethe lug-21, which will thereby. act'as'a lock to prevent suchopening. It'is manifest that lugs of this character 20 and 21 may be employed on the constructions of Figs. 1 to 3 equallywelhifs'odesired. j

VVhile I have described the transverse bar lOas being secured in place by fusible pin,

vised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof "which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that :I'do not'restrict myself tothe details, as the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing; from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having now described my inventioiuwhat I claim asnew and desire to secure byrLetters Patent, is V r V 1. In a'closure operator, the} combination of a fixed frame adaptedto' close-bygravity,

and a movable closure, with an operating bar hinged to the movable closure and having along its length a plurality of ratchet "teeth, a bracket secured to the fixed'frame and having an abutment with which the ratchetteeth of the operating bar automatically engage for holding the closure in open position, guide pulleys journaled on fixed axes on the bracket, two chains orcables respectively connected to the operating bar at its opposite ends and passing about the guide pulleys to provide downwardly extending portions by which a pull upon the respective chains or cables may open or control the closing of the movable closure, and means independent of the movable closure and pulleys and their support to disengage the teeth of the hinged operating bar from the abutment of the bracket controlled by the chain or cable leading to the end of the bar which is hinged to the movable closure.

2. The combination of afixed frame adapted to close by gravity, with a movable closure, and means for operating the movable closure consisting of an operating bar having its upper end laterally curved and hinged to the movable closure and provided with ratchet teeth inclined on one side, said bar hanging vertically and acting as a lock when the movable closure is closed, a bracket secured to the fixed frame and having an abutment with which the teeth may engage in one direction only to hold the movable closure .in open position, guiding means on the bracket close to the abutment, a chain or cable guided about the guiding means and having one end connected with the free or inner end of the operating bar and the other end extending downward from the guide,

and hand manipulated means for raising the operating bar out of engagement with the abutment to permit the closing of the movable closure by gravity.

3. The combination of a fixed frame, with a movable closure, and means for operating the movable closure consisting of an operating bar hinged to the movable closure and provided with ratchet teeth, a bracket secured .to the fixed frame and having a detachable cross bar with which the teeth automatically engage to hold the movable closure in open position, said bar secured in place by being releasably held in position, a guide on the bracket, a chain or cable guided about the guide and having one end connected with the free end of the operating bar and the other end extending downward from the guide, and hand manipulated means for raising the operating bar out of engagement. with the crossbar and to permit the closing of the movable closure by'gravity.

4. The combination of a fixed frame, with a movable closure, and means for operating the movable closure consisting of an operating bar hinged to the movable closure and provided with ratchet teeth, a bracket se- -cured to the fixed frame and having an abutment with which the teeth engage to hold the movable closure in open position, and freely movable over the abutment in relation to the bracket, a chain or cable guided about the guide and havingone end connected with the free end of the operating bar and the other, end extending downward from the guide, pivoted means independent of the guide for raising the operating bar out of engagement with the abutment and to permit the closing of the movable closure by gravity, and a second chain or cable extending from the movable closure and. guided about the guide on the bracket and adapted to operate the pivoted disengaging means. a I

5. The combination of a fixed window frame, and a movable closure adapted to close by gravity, with an operating bar hinged to the movable closure for moving connected to the free end of the operating bar and guided about the fixed guide inone direction and having its other end connected to the bar adjacent to the window closure and guided about the guide in the other directionwhereby the operating bar maybe manipulated in opening or closing the movable closure, and a pivoted lever independent of the guide on the bracket having an arm for raising the operating bar to disengage its teeth from the engaging portion of the bracket said lever actuated by the portion of the chain leading from the outer end of the bar.

6. The combination of a fixed window frame, and a movable closure adapted to close by gravity, with an operating bar hinged to the movable closure for moving it and provided with teeth along its length, a bracket secured to the fixed frame, an abutment engaging the bracket and shaped to engage the teeth for holding the movable closure in any open position desired and freely movable over the abutment in opening the closure, a fusible bolt for locking the abutment in fixed relation to the bracket, a guiding means on the'bracket, a chain'or cable portion extending from the free end of the operating bar and guided in one direction about the guiding means, a chain or cable portion extending from the closure end of the operating bar and guided about r the movable closure consisting of a long perating bar having teeth along its length and said bar laterally curved at its upper end and hingedrthereat to the movable closure,a bracket secured to the fixed frame and immediately under the laterally curved portion ofthe bar when the closure is in closed position and having an abutment adapted for engagement of the teeth, rotary guiding means journaled in the bracket, cables extending from opposite ends of the operating bar and guided in opposite directions about the rotaryguiding means, and hand controlled means for actuating the operating bar to release it from engagement of the abutment.

8. The combination of a fixed Window frame, and a movable closure adapted to close by gravity, With operating means for the movable closure consisting of a long f operating bar hinged to the movable closure and provided with ratchet teeth along its length, a bracket secured to the fixed frame and forming a guide for the bar said 'bracket provided with notched portions on its side most distant from the fixed frame, a U shaped abutment frame extending across the bracket for engaging the teeth of the bar and said'abutment frame having portions at its lower part engagingthe notched portions ofthe bracket, said abutment frame having its upper portion releasably held to the bracket, chains for'operating the bar for opening or closing the movable closure, and

' hand controlled means'for disengaging the operatin'gbar from the abutment when closingthe movable closure.

9. The combination ,.of a fixed Window frame, and a movable closure adapted to close by gravity with .an operating bar with teeth' along' its length,,With means to shift the operating bar for opening and closing the closure, an abutment device for engaging the teeth of the bar for holding the movable closure in open position,said

abutment device comprising a hinged part detachably connected at its lower end in rehinged to the movable closure and provided a 50, lation to thefixed frame, and. releasably 

